northern Italy

You should probably be more specific about the time of year you will visit and mode of transportation. You could also mention length of stay and topics of interest. Around Alba is Piemonte/Piedmont. The nearby town of Barolo has been frequently recommended in this forum.

I will be traveling in early June and will have a car. We will definitely visit some wineries, but also enjoy just visiting little towns. I was just wanting some feedback from travelers who have been there.

If you visit the area near Lake Maggiore/Lake Orta, more to the north, visit Orta San Giulio on lake Orta and Stresa, Cannero and Cannobio on Lake Maggiore.
Closer to Alba, the villages of Neive and also Mombaldone are famous gems. Barolo, Barbaresco are also nice and in the same general wine producing area of a Langhe and Monferrato.
Take a look at these websites:
http://www.piemonteitalia.eu/gestoredati/dettaglio/99/itinerari/2177/borghi-storici-del-piemonte.html?lang=en
http://www.langheroero.it/index.jsp?idProgetto=2
http://www.monferrato.net/index.php